Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia today ruled that a tweet posted by Nationalist MP Jason azzopardi after a Parliamentary session on 10 October to be considered breach of privilege.
In the tweet, posted on the day of a heated parliamentary debate on 10 October, Azzopardi had said: “This evening one could see how the corrupt, those who eat tripe with killers behave: he disrupts those who would reveal his lies and deceit.” Economy Minister Chris Cardona said that this tweet referred to him, and asked for a ruling from the Speaker as he considered it a breach of privilege.
He said that the statement is defamatory, despite it not referring to a person specifically.
The Speaker today made reference to a number of past rulings.
Farrugia said that the MP insulted needs to be identifiable through the insulting statement.
What Azzopardi wrote was just a few minutes after the adjournment speech of the night, Anglu Farrugia said. He said that indirect reference was being made to what occurred during the adjournment speech. He said that for anyone who was watching Parliament, that Azzopardi was referring to an MP raising a number of point of orders.
The Speaker said that Cardona was one of the members who most raised point of orders, so much so that the Deputy Speaker at one point turned off his microphone.
The Speaker found that the tweet did identify Cardona. The Speaker found that the case is, prima facie, breach of privilege. The house is ready to withdraw its ruling if the words are retracted and if he apologises.
Azzopardi used a similar expression last week during Indepth. He said Cardona “eats tripe with people who have been charged over the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and who use car bombs.”
On that occasion he mentioned Cardona by name.
In what appears to be a reply to the Speaker's ruling, Azzopardi said he will defend his right to freedom of expression, giving no indication that he intends to withdraw what he tweeted.
"Freedom of political expression is a fundamental right that is not given or taken by Mr Speaker. I will fight for my freedom of political expression in and outside the House, in and outside Malta. Whatever it takes. Whatever. Never giving in. Never giving up," he wrote.
Azzopardi later appeared in Parliament and was asked by the Speaker to declare whether he will apologise or not. Azzopardi saiid that he wasn't present in the House during the ruling as he was in a constitutional court case. He said that he is shocked by the implication of this ruling, and will appeal from it in the House, as well as in the Civil courts.
